TIFF19: Ranking this year’s films...

...and a People’s Choice prediction

By Christopher Schobert

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver star in MARRIAGE STORY.

Photo courtesy of TIFF.

In my thirteen years attending the Toronto International Film Festival, I’ve never seen as many genuinely great films as I did in 2019. And I’m not the only TIFF19 attendee saying that. From world premieres (Knives Out, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) to hits from other festivals (Parasite, Waves, Marriage Story), the consensus is that this was one of the strongest TIFFs in recent memory.

And yes, it still runs until September 15.

Below is a rundown of the nineteen films I saw this year. I may watch a few more from home before all is said and done. Visit tiff.net/films for summaries and trailers for these and more.

Parasite

Waves

Marriage Story

Uncut Gems

Knives Out

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Jojo Rabbit

Ford v Ferrari

The Report

Bad Education

The Lighthouse

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band

Red Penguins

Just Mercy

Clifton Hill

Joker

Weathering With You

The Truth

Seberg

It was such a strong year that some very good films — Bad Education, The Lighthouse — that would ranker higher in any other year are instead a bit far down the list.

It’s very likely that one of the films listed above will take home 2019’s Grolsch People’s Choice Award. Voted for by TIFF audiences, it is often a good Oscar predictor — for better (12 Years a Slave) or worse (Green Book).

My 2019 prediction is Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, a powerhouse of a film that anyone who has ever been in a relationship will find identifiable. Backups? Let’s go with A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers, and Taika Waititi’s Nazi satire, Jojo Rabbit.

With so many gems, let’s hope a deserving film takes the crown. Watch for more TIFF coverage from me in the November Buffalo Spree.